Most of the songs on Encore originate from previous studio albums as well as from Richie's repertoire with his former band The Commodores, although he also performed the songs "Angel," "Tender Heart" and "Don't Stop the Music" from the Renaissance album Upon release, the album earned a mixed response, with some American reviewers criticizing Island's decision to omit two previously unreleased original tracks, the Ric Wake-produced "Goodbye" and "To Love a Woman," a duet with Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias, from US editions of Encore.

A commercial success, the live album reached the top ten in Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Allmusic editor William Ruhlmann found that "Richie is an engaging cheerleader of a frontman, endlessly encouraging his already enthusiastic listeners with such interjections as "C'mon!," "Yeah!," and "Let's go!."

[...] No doubt this show was more enjoyable for Richie fans in the arena than it will be for those listening at home [...] This is a performer who is playing much more to the audience in front of him than to the one that will hear the concert later on disc.

Even leaving aside the truncated form of this version of the collection, this is not a memorable live album.